The Elementary Library (and more!): Reality vs fantasy

The last 3 weeks have been amazing, surreal, and stressful intermittently throughout this time period. I know that this sounds crazy, but it is true!

Today, I found a video from Gerry Brooks that sums up how I feel very well.

Here is the link. He is a principal in Kentucky and is really well educated..

Being An Educator

Facebook version

How is it going with home learning at my own house?

Each child has strengths and weaknesses:

Here is the REALITY:

Alayna (age 21) is managing but college classes and tests with five younger siblings is interesting. Many of her professors are swimming uncharted waters for advanced genetics and immunology classes.

Ben (age 12) is working through the Pennsylvania Hunter Safety Course as well as his occupational therapy activities. Not much school related activities, but he is doing his fluency.

Bella (age 10) is struggling to find enrichment for herself. She is doing awesome working with siblings, playing computer and board games with them, but is not stretching herself academically.

She is enjoying making small crafts to include in family letters. Bella is writing a letter each day to different family and friends. In addition, she is reading aloud to my students every night.

TJ (age 7) is working hard, but is super distractable. He has read books, completed math activities, met on Zoom with his teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, worked on his teacher's enrichment activities, and even writes a letter every day. This is a challenging activity for him, but he is doing it!

Lucas (age 4) is just existing and learning through osmosis mostly. He loves ABC Mouse and Prodigy math games on the computer. We try to do Go Noodle as well. He is counting and working on writing his name. He is often reluctant to color a picture, but will make one out of stickers. Letters are my goal for him over the next 2 months.

Cadia (age 2) is just working on her speech therapy goals. Play and listening and reading are the main ways that she is learning.

Here is my FANTASY:

I want the picture perfect imagine of everyone sitting at the table working or everyone curled up on the couch each with our own book. NOPE not happening. I am just focusing on sanity and real life moments not TEACHING.

It is a huge shift...it feels weird...I still want/need a schedule. I am guessing that this will come over the next few weeks.

What are your successes and challenges?

Pictures...